The Bicester Glider Club decided to have a glider competition half way through their display.....which meant they had to go into a holding patter for 15 minutes........and then cancel when the gliders didn't sod off.......followed by Mr Ministry of Defence paying them a visit!!
Bicester's competiton was actually long since planned, it runs from the 21st-29th Aug, but the actual competition route is actually decided on the day, and can be changed minutes before the start time ..
Yesterday's weather forced the gliders to start down a narrow track just on the edge of the air display area, which doubled in size for the period of the RA display .. no excusing the glider pilots [they were all told about the air display], but the first day of a competition and for a lot of them it would have been an unfamiliar area.
Considering the fact it happened just after start time, a lot of the gliders would have been flying together .. so I suspect there was an aspect of "well he's over there so it must be OK"
Not good for anyone though!